After Mark Slavin's Watercolor, “Two Windows”

In the one facing me the sun bleeds

Weapon-like, stabbing with its petals

Lit up by evening into the room

Like a hand covering the western sky,

And in the other pane, winter

Behind a dusky watery splash, snow

On the ground between misty trees.

You might be wearing a helmet,

And going left, away from the fire's

The best option, if you want to see home

Again, your people, your animals,

The trees in your yard, if you want to hope

Again that everything turns out best, to sit

Where two windows make the corner

A place to be, late afternoon,

With the sun coming up in one,

Going down in flames in the other,

That place at the back or side of the house

Where the dreams that life counts upon

Have half a chance to find you.

The Meeting

The Meeting

Okay, I want to call the meeting to order. 

Does anyone have any opening remarks they would like to make?

I, for one, am getting just a bit frightened by what’s happening

On the streets of America.

Me too!  It’s scary.

I agree.  What do we propose to do?

One of us has to start speaking about the poor and the unemployed.

That’s a must.  We can’t forget them.

I think it would be less confusing if you guys stuck with the old message you had,

And we’ll talk about the government’s constant bloodsucking character.

That makes more sense than switching around all the time.

I second that.  I’ll start getting the word out

That there’s legislation in the pipeline

That addresses the hunger issue. 

I’ll give a speech, or you give one, and I’ll respond,

Whatever makes you comfortable. 

I know a journalist looking for an exclusive.  He’s got his own ideas, so….

As far as the American street, I’ll have the bureau set up a few

Orgs to attract the worst of the worst. 

Once they’re gone, cut from the main, like the head of a snake,

The orgs just lose energy and die off.

If it’s hydra-natured, we’ll have the infrastructure to control it. 

If we control everything, all sides,

Then there’s no opposition.  There’s only us.

Good idea.  I’m already feeling better.

Meeting adjourned.